Monday, February 28, 2011

More of March's Class...

This is the third card I designed for March's card class.  There is a fourth card, which is done, but I failed to take pictures.  I will get a photo today and post it soon.
Those of you who live locally and can make the class, it is set for Saturday, March 19, at 10:30 a.m. at Paper Vineyard.  If not, you can always order a kit.  Hope to see you then.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Cosmo Cricket weekend!

Okay - there is so much to report today.  These pictures, as always, are in random order.  I spent Saturday at Paper Vineyard (we all know this is my second home) at the Cosmo Cricket event.  Cosmo Cricket was invited to Paper Vineyard Scrapbooking Store to teach three classes.  That was this weekend so there were a lot of activities happening.  Two of the classes consisted of a layout and a card.  I did not completely finish my layouts because I wanted to place photos on mine, so I do not have pictures of the layouts.  After the morning session, we went to Floridino's restaurant for lunch.  Miss Kylee wanted the dessert, which she so graciously shared with us.  It is a baked chocolate chip cookie, covered with 3 HUGE scoops of ice cream, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce!  Oh my gosh, it was good!  We had five spoons and passed it around the table. Obviously from the look on Kylee's face, you can tell it was delicious!
This is Wanda, the rep for Cosmo Cricket and a sweet lady, chatting it up with Adriana ), the owner of Paper Vineyard.  
 
Ladies from Friday night's class...
 More from Friday night...
 
 
Now we move on to Saturday morning's class with Celina and Cindy sitting across the table from Nicole, Kylee, and myself.  Celina is toasting her drink (directed at me) because we placed a bet.  I think I kind of won the bet, but probably, technically, no, I didn't win.  So now I owe Celina a drink from Floridino's.  That's soda or tea - just to be clear.
 More from Saturday's classes...
These are the two cards we made - remember, I did not finish my layouts.  I just love the fish and was happy to finally learn how to make the rolled flowers.
 Kylee is a very crafty girl and I am sure she would want me to share that with you.
 One of her finished projects...
One of the many free items she received from Cosmo Cricket...
Meet the birthday girls!  Friday was the birthday of Lois...
And Cindy...
They celebrated all weekend - as they should have!  Happy birthday to two beautiful ladies who met through Paper Vineyard and have become very good friends!
It was a fun weekend and I am glad to be home for a little bit today.  I do have the card exchange later, but I am hoping to get in, and get out.  Yeah, that's always hard to do because I love visiting with my friends.  Take care.

Friday, February 25, 2011

March's Class at Paper Vineyard

I know.  I have been very, very bad when it comes to updating my blog lately - I am so very sorry about that.  I do have a few people who read it every day and will comment to family members that I need to update my blog.  (You know who you are, right?)  Well, here's my latest design...
My March class at Paper Vineyard Scrapbooking Store features the Twig line by Little Yellow Bicycle.  LYB offered a great deal at CHA and I couldn't pass it up - not only that, this paper/embellishment line is gorgeous!  I love the blues and greens, which happen to be my favorite colors.  We will be covering a wood frame using four different papers from this line, along with several embellishments.  I did add the ribbon from my own stash.  All other embellishments (the feather, pennants, corrugated flowers, flower center, and chipboard buttons) are from Little Yellow Bicycle.
We will also be making 8 cards (2 of 4 different designs).  Below are two of the cards we will be making.  In this class, I will bring numerous stamps and class participants will be able to choose the sayings they want to use, whether it be happy birthday, thinking of you, or whatever they choose.  I suggested this at my last class and they all agreed it would be a great idea.
Have a great weekend.  I am going to PV this evening - Cosmo Cricket is coming today for 2 days of classes and lots of fun!  I will be spending a lot of time at the store this weekend, so I should have lots of photos to share! 

Friday, February 18, 2011

Glitter everywhere!

I took the glitter class on Sunday at Paper Vineyard.  I;m not getting old - I know I mentioned that in an earlier blog.  :)   These are the samples that we made in the class - they are panels which can then be placed on card fronts.  The glitter is so fine, it is amazing!  This entire front is made of glitter and it does not come off.
These are the three card fronts we made - everyone's was different because we were able to select whatever colors we wanted.  So there was quite a variety.
The one in the middle started off with a sticker that had many parts.  You peel off one layer at a time and then sprinkled/brush the glitter on the exposed sticky part.  You then burnish the glitter (rub it with your finger tip) and the colors really pop.
I think the silver one with navy blue and green swirls ended up being my favorite.
It was a lot of fun and yes, you do get glitter on you while you are making these cards, but they are absolutely beautiful!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Elizabeth Crafts Design

Els of Elizabeth Crafts Design came to Paper Vineyard and taught a glitter class.  This was not just any glitter class, it was micro glitter and it is so smooth, it feels sort of velvety.  I did not do a good job of taking pictures, but here are a couple that I can share.  These are some of stickers (strips of chains and small dots) that can be used in conjunction with the glitter.  I actually used a couple on the Valentine's Day mail boxes I made for my daughters - see my last blog.
This is Els and Adriana.  She is from the Netherlands and has a delightful accent.  She was a lot of fun and offered a lot of instruction.  I truly enjoyed the class.
I will try to finish the cards we started so that you can see some of what we made in this class.  Have a great day!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Valentine's Day

My friend, Claudia, found these white small metal mail boxes at Target in their dollar bin.  She bought several and shared a couple with me.  Her inspiration?  She had just taken a class of mine where we used alcohol inks and she wanted to use them on these mail boxes to deliver Valentine's gifts to her grandchildren.  Here are some cards she made, along with the very cute mail box. The white doilies (which are really "in," by the way) - the set up is beautiful!  Beautiful display, Claudia, and I am so pleased you are excited about crafting.  I really feel that crafting of any sort is good for the soul.
With the two she gave me, I simply wrapped a piece of paper around the mail box, used the stickers I purchased during the glitter class, with Elizabeth Crafts Design, and then tied tulle around the paper.  I used a few heart embellishments on the side and the flag.  I thought they turned out so cute and so very simple!
I filled them with a little bit of candy and a couple of gift cards.  The main thing is that my daughters really liked them and thought they were cute - that's all that really matters.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Old Friends - NO! Let me change that to Long-Time Friends...

I have a group of friends who get together about every 2, 3 or 4 months for breakfast at Paradise Bakery at Desert Ridge Mall.  In the past it has been hit or miss for me because of working two jobs, but I am now able to join them a little more often.  I used to live in the northwest part of Phoenix when we lived here years ago.  So these friends come from far and wide to what we consider to be a central meeting place.  Meet Joy and Susan (Susan looks just a little tipsy, but I swear she's only drinking coffee).
From left to right:  Laura, Loretta, and Esther.  Esther is the one who plans these get togethers - she has always been so good at keeping in touch.
These ladies knew me when I was single, married, and single again.  We were having babies at the same time, our kids grew up together, and now many of our kids are parents (not mine, yet).  Yes, it has been that long that these beautiful ladies have been a part of my life.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Can you believe it?

I am done - and have been done - with my cards for the February card exchange.  Usually I am finishing them the day before or even the day of the exchange.  Go Jean!  This month's assignment was to make cards using the color pink and one additional color.  Here's what I came up with:
The other color I chose is green.  I used green and pink Stickles, a pink plaid background and mounted it on green paper. The flowers and stems were colored using water color pencils.
This is another old stamp that has seen many years of use.  Both the saying and the bear stamp are by Imaginations and was probably one of the first stamps I ever purchased.
He's an old friend whose been around a very long time!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

My own My Stik

I really love Scrapbook Adhesives and at CHA they gave away samples of their new product, My Stik.  It is a runner in which you can personalize it with photos.  So I did...  These are my girls, Katie and Kimmy, many years ago, but I still love these pictures...
Here they are at Disney World in Orlando.  Several of my friends noticed this at the crop the other night and now they want their own.  I know they have been ordered and will be in at Paper Vineyard - hopefully soon!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Planner for next year

I have somewhat new software and still can't figure out how to get my pictures from my computer to the blog in the correct order, so bear with me.  :)  This weekend Nicole and I made a planner/calendar/notebook using the Crate Paper Restorations line, Cinch binder, and chipboard.  Here are photos:
This is the inside back cover - where I put a pocket.
This is the cover (should have been the first page, right?)  We used the Restorations chipboard and tag sticker embellishments, as well.
Photo 2 of the cover...
These are actually old buttons given to me by a friend.
These are the calendar pages - perpetual actually - the sheets come out, they are not dated, so you fill in the month and days.
Some of the tabs...
We also put in notebook paper for a place to jot down notes, lists, etc.
Another pocket divider...
It turned out beautiful.  We started and finished this project in one night... and I would have to say... I am pleased.  :)

Monday, February 7, 2011

CHA - Again!

Another morning at the convention center - Adriana is crunching numbers before the day gets started...
This is the map of the exhibitors, but this is just the top floor - there was another whole floor with more exhibits.  We were trying to map out a plan.
 More samples of finished products...
 Like I said - cupcakes were big...
 Mini books ...
 A wreath of accordian flowers...  It was really beautiful.
 More cupcakes...
This product is a metal product using copper and aluminum - the vendor is Willow Hollow, I believe.
Yes, I am a groupie.  This is Debby Schuh who is a designer for multiple vendors.  I saw her at the end of the day and grabbed her for a picture.  She was very, very gracious about it.  She mentioned she wants to come to Phoenix, so we are going to work on that!
As you can see, I saw many designers and instructors while at CHA.  Tim Holtz and Margie Romney-Aslett.  Tim was demonstrating a new metal drill that just came out.
Back to Willow Hollow - the metals come in colors and you can use tools to create designs.  Very cool.
 More metal...
All of the pictures I have shared so far were taken with my phone.  I did use my camera, but I am having a little difficulty getting those off of my camera and "blog available."  I am working on it.  I think there are a few you would like to see.